All kinds of people who are usually in the gym, at the field house, on the court,
or in an exercise class showed up at the Indian Tree Golf Club in mid December at
two retirement parties for Mike Miles, out-going executive director of the Apex Park
& Recreation District. One gathering was primarily for the public and one was for
Apex employees and the board.

Jeff Glenn, president of the Apex Board of Directors summed up Miles’s career this
way:

“Mike has served this community for more than 18 years with integrity, vision and
great leadership. He is very well respected by his peers in the recreation business
and by those of us who were lucky enough to have worked with him. His contributions
to the district are many including the deeding of the property on 82nd & Simms from
Jefferson County to Apex. This had never been done before and has set a new precedent
for all special districts in the state.”

“As president of the board of directors I cannot express how much Mike has meant
to the district, its board members over the years and the community as a whole during
his time as executive director. He is a kind and caring man who will be dearly missed
by many. We wish him all the best as he moves onto the next phase of his life.”

Mike Miles calls his years with Apex “the best job of my career.” He worked at
total of 45 years in the recreation field and held his first job at age 12 -- 53
years ago. “I have worked all my life,” he said. “I don’t know what it will be like
to be retired.”

Within a week after his retirement celebration, he and his wife Kathy are moving
to the Wildcat Hills scenic area near Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where they have built
a home on an 18 acre site. “It’s very quiet. The road to our property ends at our
driveway.”

Miles plans to volunteer at a museum, return to a favorite hobby of playing classical
guitar, and spend more time with Pickleball.

“I’ve got Pickleball started in town at an indoor facility,” he said. With a nod
toward Pickleball Ken, Miles said, “I hope to become the Pickleball Mike of Scottsbluff.”

At his retirement parties, Miles received compliments for his leadership from the
Apex Foundation, the Apex Board of Directors, officials of the City of Arvada, co-workers
and patrons of the parks and recreation district.

“But it’s not just me,” he protested. Everybody has worked hard.” His longtime
administrative assistant Luann Levine was also honored for her service. She’s doing
a “semi-soft retirement,” moving to part-time status.

“They couldn’t let her get away,” Miles joked, “but I’m dispensable.”

Miles’s replacement is Lauri Dannemiller, who came to Apex after serving as executive
director for Parks and Recreation in Denver.